Toggle clamp



1961 F. BLATT 3,010,171

TOGGLE CLAMP Filed July 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LELAND F. sun-1- Nov. 28, 1961 F. BLATT 3,010,171

I TOGGLE CLAMP Filed July 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mil IN VEN TOR.

LELA D F BLA T- BY Nov. 28, 1961 L. F. BLATT 3,010,171

TOGGLE CLAMP Filed July 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (514mb F. 8447'? 3,010,171 'TOGGLE CLAMP Leland F. Blatt, R0. 790, Shoreham, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 749,892 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-248) This invention relates to a toggle clamp and more particularly to a novel type of toggle clamp assembly.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simplified toggle clamp including base plates, operating arm, control handle and links between said handle and arm arranged in a novel fashion to produce a useful and versatile clamp structure.

It is a further object to provide a toggle clamp assembly incorporating base plates which have horizontal as well as a vertical base support element adapted for mounting upon a surface in either position depending upon the clamping problem involved.

his a further object to incorporate in said clamp a cantilever type of operating arm which may be pivotally mounted at either end of the base plates selectively, and may also be reversed end to end whereby it may be pivotally mounted between said base plates at its end or intermediate its ends.

It is a further object to incorporate within and between the base plates a novel form of control handle which may be selectively a 90-degree shape or other shape such as a 45-degree shape.

It is another object to provide a control handle which may be selectively mounted pivotally within the base plates at either end thereof, or reversed at either end.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel toggle clamp wherein various parts may be switched in their pivotal mountings from one point to another or wherein the parts may be reversed to provide a large number of possible combinations of elements.

It is a still further object to provide a novel form of link which includes a toggle action control boss, which link may be used in either of two different positions depending uponwhether the clamp is to lock open or to lock in closed position.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present toggle clamp.

FIG. lA shows the same in release position.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the present toggle clamp with the locations of the operating arm and handle reversed.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present toggle clamp with a diiferent form of operating arm substituted in a 45-degree high position.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the clamp shown in FIG. 5 with the pivotal location of the handle and operating arm reversed, and illustrating a slightly difierent handle.

FIG. 7-A shows the same in release position.

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of FIG. 7.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely several preferred embodiments of the present invention and that other embodiments and variations of arrangements of the respective parts are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present toggle clamp includes a pair of parallel spaced upright base plates 11 States atent Patented Nov. 28, 1961 "ice having a fiat horizontal base 12 adapted for mounting upon a supporting surface S. Said plates 11 include the upright base elements 13, which provide an alternate support for the base plates upon said surface upon rotation of the base plates degrees from the position shown in FIG. 1.

Base plates 11 have at their one ends the uprights 14 and at their opposite ends the elevated lateral extensions 15. Extensions 15 have horizontaltop surfaces 16 which at their inner ends merge with upwardly extending inclines 17, preferably arranged at 45-degrees to the horizontal, whose upper ends merge with the curved tops of uprights 14.

Upright handle 18 of a 90*-degree form is arranged in a top position with respect to base plates 11 as distinguished from the end position of said handle shown in FIG. 3. Handle 18 includes the right angular extension 19 which isguidably positioned between uprights 14 and pivotally mounted thereon at 20.

' Upright operating arm 21 of cantilever form is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 22 between and in cooperative engaging relation with end extensions 15.

The 45 degree angular extension 23 of arm 21 projects upwardly. and outwardly as shown and its end is pivotally connected at 26 between and engaging the pair of parallel spaced upright links 24. which normally overlie top edges 16 of extensions 15 as shown in FIG. 1.

The other ends of said links are arranged upon opposite sides of and engage handle 18 and are pivotally connected therewith at 25, completing the assembly. Links 24 have arcuate projecting bosses 27 arranged upon one side of their longitudinal axes to function in the manner hereafter set forth.

Handle 18 is shown in clamp locking position and it.

is noted that a toggle linkage is established between the pivotal mounting 20 of the handle and the pivotal con nections 25 and 26 of the links with said handle and arm;

In the locked position shown in FIG. 1 pivot point 25 is vertically displaced as indicated at 28 below the centerline extending between pivots 20 and 26. Accordingly the clamp is locked in clamping position and resists the opposing forces indicated by the arrow.

In other "words, the clamp may not be released until the pivot center 28 has been elevated above the center line of pivots 20-26. This is done by manual rotation of handle 18 in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow towards full release position.

At full release position, FIG. lA handle 18 may have rotated approximately 90 degrees, and likewise arm 21 will have rotated approximately a similar amount so that links 24 will be arranged at approximately a 45- degree angle adjacent the respective inclines 17.

Upon rotation of said handle to release position the bosses 27 will cooperatively bear against the top surfaces 16 so as to prevent pivot center 26 from passing dead cencenter with respect to pivotal connections 22 and 25. Accordingly the clamp does not lock when in open release position. 1

The arcuate boss 27 lies on one side of the longitudinal center line of links 24 and projects beyond one end thereof, as in FIG. 1. Said bosses are thus positioned to engage the top edges 16 of base plates 11 when the handle 18 has been rotated to the release position shown in FIG. 1-A.

Bosses 27 thus prevent the pivot center 26 from dropping past dead center with respect to pivot centers 22 and 25. Consequently, the clamping arm 21 will not vlock in release position. Thus to return the clamp arm 21 rotated counter clockwise.

But for bosses 27, pivot 26 would move past said deadcenter with the result that the clamp would lock in release position. If so, it could not be unlocked merely by counter clockwise rotation of handle 18. It would be necessary to first manually rotate arm 21 in a counter clockwise direction to elevate point 26 relative to a line between pivot centers 22 and 25.

Under some conditions it is desirable to have the clamp lock in release position. This may be accomplished if the links 24, FIGS. 1 and l-A are rotated 180 degrees along the longitudinal axis. This displaces the earns 27 rendering them ineffective.

Should it be desiredto have the clamp lock in open position all that is necessary is to rotate links 24 180 degrees about their horizontal axes so that bosses 27 are up and out of the way and will not engage surfaces 16 when the handle is rotated to release position. Accordingly pivot point 26 will then pass dead center with respect to a centerline between pivots 22 and 25, thus locking operating arm 21 in an open position substantially 90 degrees clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 1.

Operating arm 21 may be reversed end to end from the position shown in FIG. 1, so that its end is pivotally mounted at 22 to base plates 11, and its inter-mediate portion is pivotally joined at 26 to the connecting links 24. The operation is just the same, except that the clamping action is vertical.

Suitable bushings 28, FIG. 2 are respectively positioned within the transverse apertures of handle 18 as well as through the transverse apertures of operating arm 21 23. 1

The respective pivots 20, 22, 25 and 26 are provided by a suitable bolt designated as 26 in FIG. 2, for illustra-. tion, which extends through the respective outer member, through said bushings, through the respective outer memher, and has mounted at its end a suitable shear nut 29 with locking key 30 of conventional construction.

Any other type of" pivot may be employed such as the pivot pins 20', 22, 25' and 26, FIG. 3, which has secured at their ends suitable locking rings 31', shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 3-4 there is shown the same toggle clamp general assembly as in FIG. 1, except that the loca-- tion of the handle and operating arm have been reversed. The same handle 18 at its projecting end 19 is pivoted between the base extensions 15 upon pin 22'.

Similarly operating arm 21 and its angular extension 23 is pivoted between the uprights 14 as at 20'. The same link pivots are employed. Links 24 are pivotally conneot ed to handle 18 by the pin 25' corresponding to the handle pivot 25 of FIG. 1.

Likewise the opposite ends of said links are pivoted to opposite sides of the operating arm extensions 23 by thepivot pin 26 corresponding to the extension pivot 26 shown in FIG. 1. By this arrangement the present toggle clamp has many different usages and variations. The operating arm 21-23 may be inverted from the position shown in FIG. 3. By so doing the operating arm is pivoted intermediate its ends-to the base plates as at 20. Furthermore the end pivot of the operating arm shown at 20' in FIG. 3 would be reversed so that the end pivot is joined to the link 24 as at 26'. i

Handle 18 is also shown in lockingfposition with the. pivot point 25 moved past dead center as shown at 32 when going into locking position, with respect to the center line between pivots, 22' and 26 effectively locking arm 21 in clamping position.

Bosses 27 are so arranged with respect to inclines 17 that upon counterclockwise rotation of handle 18 to release position said bosses 27 will engage said inclines so as to prevent pivot 26' from passing dead 'center between the pivotal connections 26' and 25' when the handle is in full release position.

Accordingly arm 21 will notflock in release position. Should it be desired to lock said arm in release position, then on assembly links 24 are rotated 180 degrees on their longitudinal axes so that bosses 27 become ineffective and accordingly pivot point 26' will pass dead center with respect to the pivotal connections 20' and 25 when handle 18 is in full release position thus locking arm 21 in said release position. I

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a slightly dilterent form of toggle clamp which includes the same elements shown in FIG. 1 for example, i.e., using a 90-degree handle 18 pivotally mounted in the high position at 20' and with the 90- degree operating arm 33 and its right angular extension 34 pivoted between extensions 15 at 22.

This assembly corresponds substantially to the respective location of parts shown in FIG. 1, except that adifferent form of operating arm is employed; Operating arm 33 is designated as being in a degree high position pivotally mounted at its end at 22', but may be inverted to a 45 degree low position and wherein an intermediate portion of the operating arm is pivoted to the base plates as at 22', and wherein the end portion of the operating arm extension is joined to links 24 by the, pivot pin 26'.

The operation is otherwise the same as described in connection with FIG. 1, and where in the locking position of handle 18, shown in FIG. 5, pivot 25 between the handle and links has moved past dead center as shown at 35 with respect to a center line between pivots 20 and 26 being respectively the pivotal connections of the bandle with the base plates and the pivotal connection of the operating arm 33 with links 24. I

Regardless of whether operating arm 33 is shown in highlposition or in low position, the locking action is the same in this toggle linkage assembly so that the operating arm locks in clamping position. I

The above described bosses 27 on links 24 are adapted to earn against portions of top surfaces 16 when handle 18 has been rotated clockwise to release position thus preventing the pivotal connection 26' from passing dead center with respect to a center line between pivots '22 and 25. Accordingly arm 33 does not lock in full release position. In order for the arm 33 to lock in release position, all that is necessary is to rotate links 24 about their longitudinal axes degrees so as to move bosses 27 out of the way. I

FIGS. 7-8 show a reversal of the pivotal mountings of the handle and operating arms fromthat shown in FIG. 5. The construction, is otherwise the same except that instead of aQO-degree handle, there is employed a different form of handle identified 'as a 45-degree handle 36. The end extension of said handle is nevertheless pivoted between extensions 15 by the same pivot pin 22, as was employed in FIG. 5 for arm 33.

Furthermore an intermediate portion of handle. 36 is joined to links 24 using the same pivot pin 25' as was employed in FIG. 5 to pivotally connect handle 18 with said links. Y

The same type of right angular operating arm 33 is employed as in FIG. 5, except that said operating arm is pivoted at its end at the high point with respect to the base plates 11 as by the pivot 20. This is the same pivot as in FIG. 5, used to pivotally mount handle 18. An intermediate portion of arm 33 is pivotally connected to links 24 by pivot pin 26, the same as in FIG. 5.

The operating arm 33' may be reversed, if desired, to a horizontallow position. There an intermediate portion of said arm is pivoted at 20' whereas the free end thereof is pivoted at 26 to links 24.

FIG. 7 indicates a locking position of handle 36 and it is noted that the center of pivot 25' has moved past dead center in this toggle linkage with respect to a center line between pivots 22' and 26' as. designated at 37 positively locking the arm 33 in clamping position.

When handle 36 is rotated counterclockwise to unlocking position, FIG. 7-A, bosses 27 are away from inclines 17 so that pivot 26' passes dead center with respect to pivots 20' and 25'. Accordingly, arm 33 does lock in full open position of handle 36. However, by rotating the links 24 180 degrees about their longitudinal axes, said operating arm 33 will not lock in the open position of handle 36 due to action of cams 27 on inclines 17 as in FIG. l-A.

The toggle clamps shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7 have been mounted using the base edges 12, but may be just as well supported upon their upright base elements 13. In other words, the base plates 11 have two selective positions of use. Each of the links 24 have two positions of selective use.

There may be employed a 90-degree arm or a 45-degree arm and there are eight diiferent arm positions which would be possible. Similarly there is shown a 90-degree handle and a 45-degree handle and there are eight different handle positions possible.

There are four different link positions possible, and accordingly employing the base surface 12 of said clamping plates there are a possible 256 combinations. Employing the base element 13 there would be another 256 combinations.

Accordingly it appears that the present toggle clamp may be employed in any one of 512 different combinations of the parts depending upon the locations and positioning of the respective elements, namely base plates 11, the handles 18 or 36, the operating arms 21 or 33 and the links 24.

It appears therefore that the present toggle clamp is a versatile device and that it may adapt for any desired clamping situation within the capabilities of assembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. A toggle clamp comprising a pair of parallel spaced base plates adapted for mounting upon a supporting surface, each plate having spaced ends, a cantilever handle with its end guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their one ends and pivotally mounted thereon, an operating cantilever arm guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their other ends and pivotally mounted thereon, one end of said operating arm adapted to retainingly engage a workpiece relative to said supporting surface, a pair of parallel spaced links arranged upon and engaging opposite sides of said operating arm and handle and at their opposite ends pivotally joined respectively to portions of said arm and handle spaced from their respective pivotal mountings upon said base plates, and projecting bosses at the one ends of said links adjacent their connections with said arms, said bosses lying on one side of the center line of said links and positioned to engage said base plates so that on a full pivotal opening movement of said handle, the pivotal connection between said links and arm lies in advance of dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said handle and the pivotal connection of said arm with said base plates preventing locking of said arm in release position.

2. The toggle clamp of claim 1, said base plates each having a bottom support surface and a second alternately usable support surface arranged at right angles tosaid first support surface whereby on rotation of the clamp 90 degrees, said second support surface is registerable with said supporting surface.

3. The toggle clamp of claim 1, the respective locations on said plates of the pivotal mountings of said handle and arm being interchangeable.

4. The toggle clamp of claim 1, the pivotal connections of said links with said arm and the pivotal mountings of said arm with said plates being reversible.

5. The toggle clamp of claim 1, said handle and operating arm being reversible on their respective pivotal mountings on said base plates.

6. A toggle clamp comprising a pair of parallel spaced base plates adapted for mounting upon a supporting surwith its end guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their one ends and pivotally mounted thereon, an operating cantilever arm guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their other ends and pivotally mounted thereon, one end of said operatingarm adapted to retainingly engage a work piece relative to said supporting surface, a pair of parallel spaced links arranged upon and engaging opposite sides of said operating arm and handle and at their opposite ends pivotally joined respectively to portions of said arm and handle spaced from their respective pivotal mountings upon said base plates, and projecting bosses at the one ends of said links adjacent their connections with said arms, said bosses lying on one side of the center line of said links and positioned to engage said base plates so that on full pivotal opening movement of said handle, the pivotal connection between said links and arm lies in advance of dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said handle and the pivotal connection of said arm with said base plates preventing locking of said arm in release position, said links being rotatable degrees on their longitudinal axes displacing said bosses, whereby on full opening movement of said handle the pivotal connection between said links and arm passes dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said handle and the pivotal connection of said arm with said base plates.

7. A toggle clamp comprising a pair of parallel spaced base plates adapted for mounting upon a supporting surface, each plate having spaced ends, a cantilever handle with its end guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their one ends and pivotally mounted thereon, an operating cantilever arm guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their other ends and pivotally mounted thereon, one end of said operating arm adapted to retainingly engage a workpiece relative to said supporting surface, a pair of parallel spaced links arranged upon and engaging opposite sides of said operating arm and handle and at their opposite ends pivotally joined respectively to portions of said arm and handle spaced from their respective pivotal mountings upon said base plates, the pivotal connection between said links and handle on pivotal movement of said handle to closed position lying past dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said arm and the pivotal connection of said handle with said base plates, locking said arm in clamping position, and projecting bosses at the one ends of said links adjacent their connections with said arms, said bosses lying on one side of the center line of said links and positioned to engage said base plates so that on full pivotal opening movement of said handle, the pivotal connection between said links and arm lies in advance of dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said handle and the pivotal connection of said arm with said base plates preventing locking of said arm in release position, said links being rotatable 180 degrees on their longitudinal axes displacing said bosses, whereby on full opening movement of said handle the pivotal connection between said links and arm passes dead center of a line between the respective pivotal connection of said links with said handle and the pivotal connection of said arm with said base plates.

8. A toggle clamp comprising a pair of parallel spaced base plates adapted for mounting upon a supporting surface, each plate having spaced ends, a cantilever handle with its end guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their one ends and pivotally mounted thereon, an operating cantilever arm guidably positioned between and engaging said plates adjacent their other ends and pivotally mounted thereon, one end of said operating arm adapted to retainingly engage a workpiece relative to said supporting surface, and a pair of parallel spaced links arranged upon and engaging opposite sides of said operating arm and handle and at theii opposite 1 ends pivotally joined respectively to portions of said arm and handle spaced from their respective pivotal mountings upon said base plates, the pivotal connection between said links and handle on pivotal movement of said handle to closed position lying past dead center links operatively bearinga-gainst said base plates res 'eei tively and respectively coplanar therewith.

7 References Cited in the file of thispatent I v UNITED STATES PATENTS I 7 1,343,992 Armagost June-22, 1920 1,489,355 Knowlton Apr'. 8, 1924 1,604,717 Pfiantzer Oct. 26, 1926- 2,749,875 I Frees et a1. June 12, 1956 Ho'over'et a1 Dec. 24, 19 12 

